A TRAVEL agents in Oxford will be closing down for good, the Oxford Mail can reveal. 

The Flight Centre, on Queen Street, had been temporarily closed since non-essential shops closed on March 24.

The closure occurs as 'the global travel industry' has come 'to a virtual standstill' in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A statement from Flight Centre said: “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global travel industry for both leisure and corporate, came to a virtual standstill.

“We are seeing some green shoots of growth, but these remain far lower than what we are used to and there is still a great deal of uncertainty around when significant travel demand will return.

“In addition, the continued change in the quarantine list is impacting booking levels and consumer confidence, as customers become even more wary of committing to travel plans.

“Like all organisations in the leisure and business travel sectors, we have had to make some very difficult business decisions and as a result we can confirm that we will be closing our store on Queen Street in Oxford.”

It is understood to be the first store in the UK to permenatly close. 

The company has already closed 23 stores in Australia where the company was founded in 1982. 

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The statement continued: “Resilience and preparation are critical to ensuring Flight Centre is in the best shape possible to operate in the post pandemic era, providing the best possible service to our customers, as well as ensuring that our people have greater certainty about their jobs going forwards.

“Once demand lifts we believe we will be well placed, having made these strategic decisions, to bounce back stronger than ever before.”

The closure happens weeks after STA travel, the popular student travel agency, closed all of it’s UK stores, including it’s store on George Street.